Due to the various symptoms of leprosy different classifications have been made. According to WHO( Worldwide Health Organization), leprosy can be categorized into two forms: tuberculoid and lepromatous. Other classifications though such as the Ripley and Joplin Classification identify five forms of leprosy: tuberculoid, borderline tuberculoid, borderline, borderline lepromatous, and lepromatous leprosy. Worldwide Health Organization's (WHO) Classification of Leprosy
Paucibacillary (PB)
Multibacillary (MB)
Previously called
Tuberculoid Leprosy
Lepromatous Leprosy
Unique Signs and Symptoms
Significantly milder with skin lesions and peripheral nerve enlargement as the only usual signs, possibility of spontaneous recovery
Lion-like face due to inflammation (leonine facies), as well as nasal cartilage damage causing saddle-nose deformity, blindness due to scarring of the eye can result, infertility may result in men
Distribution of lesions
Asymmetrical
Symmetrical
Occurs When
Infected person is able to mount a robust, cell-mediated immune response to the bacterium
Infected person unable to mount a cell-mediated immune response to the bacterium
Defined by World Health Organization as
1-5 patches associated with leprosy
>5 patches associated with leprosy
Is the person Infectious?
No
Possibly; bacterium is found in high concentrations in respiratory secretions and organs, but it is not clear how it is spread to another person
Prospects for Recovery
Good
Cure from disease possible, however, underlying disease complications (such as limb damage due to infection) maynot be reversible or require reconstructive surgery
Ridley and Joplin's Classification of Leprosy According to other scientists or organizations, there are more than two types of leprosy. The Ridley-Joplin chart lists five subcategories of leprosy, ranging from one which mirrors tuberculosis all the way to acute leprosy.
Types of Leprosy
**A Brief History**<-- Previous Page Next Page --> Symptoms of Leprosy
The bacteria that causes leprosy, as seen above.
Due to the various symptoms of leprosy different classifications have been made. According to WHO( Worldwide Health Organization), leprosy can be categorized into two forms: tuberculoid and lepromatous. Other classifications though such as the Ripley and Joplin Classification identify five forms of leprosy: tuberculoid, borderline tuberculoid, borderline, borderline lepromatous, and lepromatous leprosy.
Worldwide Health Organization's (WHO) Classification of Leprosy
Unique Signs and Symptoms
Occurs When
Is the person Infectious?
No
Prospects for Recovery
Good
Ridley and Joplin's Classification of Leprosy
According to other scientists or organizations, there are more than two types of leprosy. The Ridley-Joplin chart lists five subcategories of leprosy, ranging from one which mirrors tuberculosis all the way to acute leprosy.
Leprosy Index:
- Leprosy - A Brief History
- Types of Leprosy
- Leprosy-Symptoms
- Leprosy - Myths vs. Facts
- Leprosy - A Cure? - Leprosy - Works Cited